PUPPETEER KEVIN CLASH,left, and his furry red friend are featured in “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey,” airing on “Independent Lens” at 9 p.m. on KOCE.

SERIES

The Big Bang Theory: Famed physicist Stephen Hawking guest stars as himself on a new episode (8 p.m. CBS).American Idol: The Wanted performs, and Jennifer Lopez debuts her latest video, on the results show “(8 p.m. Fox).Up All Night: Megan Mullally and “SNL’s” Fred Armisen guest star on a new episode of the sitcom (9:30 p.m. NBC).Scandal: Kerry Washington and “Lost’s” Henry Ian Cusick star in this new drama about a crisis-management firm in Washington D.C. (10:01 p.m. ABC).

SPECIALS

Comic Books Unbound: This new special examines how the once-lowly comic book became fodder for some of Hollywood’s biggest hits — and flops (6 and 9 p.m. CNBC).The Real American Reunion: Jason Biggs, one of the stars of the upcoming “American Pie” sequel, attends his own high-school reunion in this special (8 p.m. E!).Secret Lives of the Apostles: This new special profiles some of Christianity’s founding fathers (9 p.m. Nat Geo), followed by “Search for the Head of John the Baptist” at 10 p.m.Tent City U.S.A.: This documentary visits a community formed by homeless people in Nashville, Tenn. (9 p.m. OWN).